#Floki Moodboard

[flokileroux]

Sergeant Elias Poe

Sergeant at day, ghosthunter at night. Sergeant Elias Poe spends his free time searching for the paranormal... much to his inspectors regret.

[axelflare9700]

Hogwarts Au -

Bjorn Ironside- Hufflepuff

Ivar the Boneless - Slytherin

Ubbe Ragnarsson - gryffindor

Floki - Ravenclaw Professor for defense from the dark arts

[flysafepapi]

hey! can i ask 🎶 , 💞 and ✨ pls?

(how've you been? hope you've been good?)

Hey! Of course ♥️

🎶 (Do you listen to music while you write? What song have you been playing on loop lately?) I have individual playlists for most things I write, because when the words aren’t wording I either make copious amounts of moodboards, like so many, or I make playlists carefully curated to fit the vibe of the story.

💞(Who’s your comfort character?) Right now? It’d probably have to be Floki from Vikings. I love him, he deserves the world, I want to sit by a fire wrapped in a blanket and listen to him tell me stories.

✨ (Give you and your writing a compliment) This is very rude of you, I can’t believe you’re gonna make me be nice to myself of all people. I guess I do like that I usually update quickly, unless the writers block has got me, even if the updates aren’t huge.

(I’ve been alright, not that good though. my mum passed away just before christmas, so that’s been a lot. I have full guardianship of my 15 year old sister now. thanks for checking in ♥️)

[hecohansen31]

Ok love,you asked for asks and here i'm!!😁 How about number 50-A kiss, followed by more that trail down the jaw and neck with Floki??! He's my favorite and you did such an amazing job with the other Floki fic you wrote,i had to ask for another!!!🧡🧡

WARNINGS: Mention of Sex, Age Difference, Death, Meeting the Parents.

You made the pouty eyes, desperate to convince Floki to join you in your newest project: meeting your parents.

But as much as Floki loved you, he wouldn’t have spent a few hours of his busy life, getting to know your parents.

Not because he didn’t respect you or them, but he knew how these things worked and how weirded out your parents would have been to see you with somebody like Floki.

He honestly had enough of the effect he had on people.

He had seen the way your friends were surprised that you had ended up with such an older and weirder man, with his own beliefs and characteristics.

No matter the fact that you loved every and each of his quirks.

So, he honestly didn’t want to go through that stuff.

After Helga’s death, he had thought that he wouldn’t ever have found anybody like her, but you had then waltzed in his life and although he was still very much the mourning widow, he had felt like it was fated.

You weren’t Helga, for sure, but you made his heart beat faster as you smiled at him, genuinely.

As if Odin had decided to give him something after all the hardships that he had made him go through.

But at the same time, he had been shy in his approach to you.

You were young and soft, certainly strong-minded and with weird interests of your own, always happy to listen to him and know more about his faith.

In a few words, you were too good.

And it had taken him quite some time to grew the balls to ask you out, sure that you’d consider him a creep, but you had solely smiled at him with that bright smirk of yours, a little malice seeping through it, as you had simply replied:

‘I have been waiting for you to ask me out, since I spilled coffee on your shirt’.

And although he was happy with you and in a comfortable relationship, he couldn’t help but have his own moments of insecurity when he was faced with the reality of things: that he was a windowed older man and you were young, with the world to discover.

And he knew what everybody thought about it.

He was holding you down from your true goals.

That one day, you’d grow tired of him and would drop him.

And he was, almost egoistically, trying to slow down this entire process.

But you were damnably convincing.

You knew perfectly what made Floki tick.

His soft shirt over you, the only thing you were wearing.

A shoulder of the shirt down, to expose your small tattoo of the name ‘Freya’, something that had sparkled many conversations between you, since Floki was curious to know what it meant.

‘I just… I just think that her entire figure is interesting: she is this beautiful creature of love and sexuality and at the same time she walks through the battlefield fiercely. I just love that she has this duality to her, that I hope to show also in myself’.

And to him you had it.

And it was even more beautiful than Freya.

And you were teasing him softly, as you sat on his laps, arm loosely slung around his neck and with those shiny and you looked at him with those bright eyes that sometimes made Floki wonder whether you had been given the sky or the Earth ground to create them.

But then, you pushed out the big guns.

You softly moved to push your lips onto his jaw, in a sloppy way, lazy and unhurried as you moved them in a light line, so soft that Floki couldn’t help but find it difficult to focus on your dialogue.

You could have asked, in that moment, for a pony and he would have given it to you.

But he had to fight against it.

He could do it.

No matter how much he wanted to do nothing more than to give up and bring you to bed to teach you exactly how much of a goddess you were…

… he had to survive this.

He could do this.

And then your lips lowered to your neck as they softly caressed his Adam’s apple, following its movements, before you lightly nibbled the softest part of his neck till you had enough of seeing him all flustered and aroused.

“… c’mon, Floki! They have been bothering me for entire weeks about seeing you!” you complained, with that brattish charm, that he just couldn’t resist in the bedroom.

And neither outside, since he could feel himself becoming hard underneath you.

And he knew you could feel him, by the little smirk, which appeared on your lips.

“Babe, you know that I am not exactly the person that your parents want to meet” he tried to whine, but you had this determined look in your eyes, that he knew this wouldn’t end so easily.

“… they’ll be happy” you promised him “… they know that you love me and take good care of me, that’ll be enough”.

“Are you sure?”.

Because he had once dropped you off at a club for a friend’s bachelorette party, and he had stayed a bit to wait with you, for more friends to come, and a fellow friend had tried to chat him up, more out of common decency than anything else, but it hadn’t worked much, because she had just looked at him super-weirded out, for the entire time.

And a few weeks later, you had been informed that you wouldn’t be a bridesmaid, anymore.

He didn’t want you to lose the people who you loved, simply because they couldn’t accept him.

He had told you back then.

But you had simply set fire to the wedding invitation, saying that ‘if they truly loved you, they would have accepted Floki’.

“They know what you look like, if it is something that you are worried…” you mumbled softly “… my sister had a little mental breakdown on the age difference, but she thinks that you are cool”.

He was completely dumbfounded, even less inclined to meet your parents.

“It’s going to be awkward” he mumbled and this time he was the one hiding in your chest.

“You are awkward, and I love you” you retorted, making him laugh lightly, meanwhile you softly welcomed him in your warmth “… and they’ll love you”.

He didn’t care about that in the slightest.

He just hoped you wouldn’t have regretted it.

Regretted him.

So, he just kissed you and nodded.

It was worth it, to see you smile so brightly that for a moment he wasn’t doubtful anymore.

[artdefenses]

vikings s1;

Loyalty (noun) Faithfulness or devotion to a person, cause or nation.

Family (noun) Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another and are bond by love.

[serasvictoria]

Help me. I made more. How did this AU come about again? I basically spent way too much time being interested in all things mythological when I was younger so it was inevitable that this happened I guess?

I’m tagging everyone that was involved in the other post as well @vikingstrash @quantumlocked310 @ritual-unions-gotme @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @kataphine and the person that gave me the idea to begin with @ofmanderley 😊

Merman Ragnar. The idea of Lagertha catching him in a net still cracks me up.

Valkyrie Lagertha. Given her fighting nature, this was the only choice.

Witch/Siren Aslaugh. Like @quantumlocked310 I couldn’t decide which of these two she should be, but both options work for me.

Dryad Floki. A tree spirit! It makes total sense!

Minotaur Rollo. I don’t why, but it works for me.

Phoenix Siggy. Because she comes back stronger every single time. Apart from that one time that will not be mentioned.

Werebear Bjorn. He got attacked by a bear in the show so it’s basically canon.

Siren Sigurd (which has been written into existence quite excellently by @vikingstrash ❤️)

[ichnusalover]

Thinking about doing a part two of the Hogwarts!Vikings moodboards + headcanons (part one) with the first gen (Ragnar, Lagertha, Bjorn etc.) but I'm not sure where to sort some of them, any suggestions?

Feel free to tell me who, what house and why🥰

[artemiseamoon]

Time for Moodboards! It’s been a while. This one goes out to my OG Vikings.

Gustaf 💜Travis 💜 Clive

~

My cute lil tag list (if you want to be added let me know) @gearhead66 @flowers-in-your-hayr @msmorganforever

~

CREDITS

board by me | Images found via pintrest I do not own these

~

[flokileroux]

Crooks Meadow

A small village on Cetecea Island in the arctic sea, where a mysterious fog threatens to swallow the whole island. People get reported missing here and whales can be spotted in unusual places.

[axelflare9700]

A Floki x Katherine mood board

[yeah-another-aesthetic-blog]

Vikings Aesthetics Series XIII

Floki

No particular order of preference in them

I’ll be uploading one per day

[hecohansen31]

Hi,darling!! Can i request modern Floki with the prompts:“I missed being with you like this,” “I’ll keep you warm. Hold me closer.” from the Smut + Fluff Prompts. And from the smut list prompts: 106“Did you just look me up and down and then bite your lip? ‘Cause if you did we’re having sex. Right now.” 97“Stop distracting me.” I hope you have fun writing these!!!🧡🧡🧡

WARNINGS: Mention of Sex, Long-Distance Relationship, Maybe a Floki being a bit OOC.

You shivered loudly as coldness seeped through your bones, due to the cold you had found as soon you had arrived to Floki’s cabin.

‘Let’s go to the cabin in the woods’ had suggested your boyfriend Floki ‘… we’ll have fun and we can fuck as loudly as we want’.

And once you had arrived to it, you had immediately discovered that it was damnably cold and that the wood logs he had thought would be already there, weren’t, because Ragnar has used all of them, when he had visited the cabin.

Hence your ‘relaxing vacation’ had started in the ‘best way’, but being the girlfriend of an engineer came in quite handy, even more when your boyfriend started cutting wood as if it was the easiest thing ever, eventually having the chimney fuming in a matter of a few minutes.

Although, you had to admit, it was still too cold for you, hidden under various layers of clothing and blankets, still shivering.

And as soon as your boyfriend turned around to look at you, he noticed it and rushed to the sofa where you were trying to warm yourself up, setting up beside you, in barely his sweater and his pants.

“Come here, shivering ghost of mine” he joked “I’ll keep you warm. Hold me closer”.

“You haven’t been doing a great job with it, honestly” you mumbled, grumpy because you disliked cold weather.

You had honestly wanted to pass a bit of time together with Floki, all alone, since he had been pretty busy helping Ragnar with his own projects and as much as you were glad he was having fun with his besties (and true love), you missed him.

Even more when he’d be on work journey far away from you.

“Stop being grumpy, little one” he mumbled, with a stern tone, but it was all lost when he giggled with typical laugh, making also your mouth open, although you closed it immediately since your teeth started clacking loudly, as Floki, brought you closer to him, warm not only for the close proximity to the fire, but also the physical activity “… I promise it’ll be warmer, soon”.

“I hope it for you, because I don’t want to do this the ‘Twilight’ way” you replied, as you snuggled closer to his chest, almost, researching his warmth in the earnest, and he smiled lightly, his lips falling down onto your frozen forehead.

His big hands moved to gently brush soothing circles to warm up your insides.

“… explain to me again, the reason behind you watching that awful shit” he teased you, and you couldn’t help but laugh lightly at Floki’s scarce knowledge of pop-culture.

That man could dash out every knowledge existing about boats, trains and airplanes, but on your first date you had mentioned the ‘Looney Tunes’ and he had looked at you like you were crazy.

You found it adorable.

Even more when you’d make him sit down through a rewatch of your favorite TV series.

(He had had told you to get a female friend at a certain point, but he still teared up a bit when his OTP became canon).

And maybe that was why he had brought you in a place where technologies didn’t work so well.

Although you were struggling to accept Floki’s faith as your own alongside his way of immersing himself in nature, you still tried to support him and see his way.

Even through bonding experience like this one.

(And many more, you hoped, if you didn’t end up frozen).

Soon, still the room warmed up, and you couldn’t help but purr against Floki’s ministration, more than happy to simply lull yourself in a conscious nap, as Floki, mumbled a few errands you had to do for the cabin, mostly to keep it running.

“I hadn’t realized that I had to take care of so many things” he mumbled “… remember me to never lend the cabin again to Ragnar, that savage raided it basically”.

“I’d add ‘change the sheets’ to the list” you added as you sent Floki a worried look and he assumed a dreading one.

“… I’d be also worried of the couch”.

You almost puked back there, glad that your various layers weren’t allowing your ass to touch the fabric of the couch.

“I am sanitizing this entire house” you blurted out, offended as Floki erupted in laughter.

“You’d have less trouble in burning the cabin, if he seriously brought somebody in here”.

“I’ll have a conversation with him about boundaries” you commented, remembering that Floki’s colleague had been rather impressed to find you and Floki together, since you were the polar opposite of the man, but he hadn’t dared saying anything.

Even more after you had shushed him from complimenting with Floki with an harsh look.

“Please do… I’ll ask somebody to record it” he smirked, as he delved a light kiss to your nose “… mostly because I can’t wait to see you rip Ragnar a new one”.

“I’ll also ask him to share custody of you, since these last months I haven’t seen you in the slightest!” you protested lightly, more against Ragnar than Floki, but the poor man still couldn’t help but feel guilty.

It was also hard on him not to see you for entire months, except through the phone, which wasn’t in the slightest as satisfying as holding you in his arms.

“I also missed being with you like this” he commented, as he lightly moved his warm nose, against your frozen one, in a soft eskimo kiss, before his hands lightly tangled in yours, bringing out your face from your hiding corner on his chest to look at you in the eyes, and reassure you that he had also missed you.

And who were you to deny your beloved boat-builder, when he looked so so truthful in his words.

And so handsome.

You bit softly your lips, as you took in the intensity of his gaze, and then those soft lips, and beautiful face structure…

Gosh, it had been such a long time since when you had last been able to watch him so so peacefully that it made you appreciate again all over the untypical beauty of your beloved genius.

“Did you just look me up and down and then bite your lip?” he asked, making you shook you away from the admiring moment you had been having over him, seeing an intense and playful glimmer appear in his eyes, as you indeed bit your lips again “Cause if you did we’re having sex”.

“It would certainly help with the entire warmth situation” you mumbled softly, as you loosely brought him closer “… but I am not fucking you on this couch”.

And like that, you got up with your various layers and strolled away from a preying Floki, who observed you as you moved around the room, examining every surface, in search of somewhere that hadn’t been touched previously by Ragnar.

And your gaze found the kitchen table.

“Want to get back to your buddy, sweetheart?” you asked as you lovingly moved the blankets away from your body and discarded your jacket.

“Oh, if I didn’t love you already so much, I am sure that my heart would burst out of my chest, now” he muttered as he came to you, gently helping you to move across the table as he discarded easily his sweater, making you lust after the lean muscles he owned.

“I am sure it isn’t your chest bursting out of something, right now” you replied jokingly, gaining a quick serious look from him as he grabbed you tightly to hold you against the table, making you grind against his length, already aroused.

“Stop distracting me” he chastised you as a sudden glimmer of dominance appeared in his eyes “… just relax and let me warm you up!”.

[honestsycrets]

Alice in Wonderland

Ragnar as the Catepillar

Lagertha as the Red Queen

Helga as the White Queen

Floki as the Mad Hatter

Ubbe as the White Rabbit

Hvitserk as Alice

Ivar as the Cheshire Cat

[serasvictoria]

Floki as Poseidon, god of the sea and storms.

All images from Pinterest

Tagging @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @ritual-unions-gotme @vikingstrash @pomegranates-and-blood @quantumlocked310

[mrsalwayswrite]

The Predator (Ivar x Reader)

Summary: Ivar has always admired you from afar, a true shieldmaiden that would even make the Valkyries jealous of your skills. But when the chance comes for him to speak to you, to finally push past his fears and insecurities….death stalks in the shadows waiting for its moment to attack.

This is my contribution to the @vikingsbigbang2022!

The idea for this fic was actually from a request/conversation I had with @childishhoe eons ago. I hope you like it!

Also, I want to give a huge shout out to my collaborating artists: @quantumlocked310 & @not-another-viking-fanfic-blog y'all have been amazing in this process. Thank you!

Moodboard by @quantumlocked310

Playlist by @not-another-viking-fanfic-blog (added at the end)

Thud.

Releasing the tension from the drawstring of his bow, Ivar peered down the field towards the target at the end. The corners of his lips turned up in the faintest idea of a smile. The arrow had landed in the dead center of the clumsily drawn target. Just like the past nine other arrows, scattered amongst the various targets drawn on stumps or bales of hay.

"Have I mentioned yet how frightfully accurate you are?"

Ivar glanced at Ubbe, who stood next to him with a proud smile on his face. "You did yesterday."

"Hmmm….seems like you were blessed by the gods."

"I'd rather have my legs." Ivar mumbled, his good mood immediately soured.

Ubbe squeezed his shoulder but thankfully kept any words behind his teeth. Seeing that Ivar was out of arrows, the elder brother walked down to the end of the archery range to retrieve Ivar's arrows again.

The dark-haired Ragnarsson absent-mindedly watched Ubbe pluck the arrows from the targets, pleased that his brother knew to keep the pitying looks or comments to himself. Everyone had gotten better about hiding their pity but Ivar could still see it….could feel it taint the air….and it made his blood boil. It made him want to thrust his dagger into someone's chest and rip their still-beating heart out, to paint himself in the blood of those who dare pity him, to hear their petrified screams….to remind them all that he was more than his useless legs.

That someday the whole world would know the name of Ivar the Boneless….

….and they would fear him.

But for now, he temporarily suppressed his homicidal tendencies. His mother chastised him enough when he verbalized all the ways he would love to torture Sigurd. Not that it stopped him. He just hated seeing that disappointed look on her beautiful face. Or the swat to the back of his head from Floki. That did not mean he did not have plans though….for the future.

The sounds of others in the practice yard drifted around him like a chilling breeze. His jaw tightened fractionally. The two Ragnarssons were off at the furthest corner of the archery range, no one else around them. Several of those that stood around or practiced with axes and swords called out greetings to Ubbe when the two brothers passed. But no one came to join them, to practice archery or just talk….because of Ivar.

That easy comradery, that acceptance, that respect from his fellow Vikings, was something he never experienced. They thought him worthless, useless….just a cripple.

They kept their distance. Never were they outright rude to his face, because everyone knew Ivar's temper and violent tendencies would warrant him to inflict pain on them, but they never tried to join him or whichever brother was babysitting him for the day.

So he watched and observed. Only in the dead of night when he was alone, did his imagination create fantasies of being able to join the other warriors. To be recognized and wanted. To be respected. To be liked.

For now, he would accept their fear.

A cheer rang out through the practice yard. "Hvitserk! Hvitserk!" Several voices chanted his name like they were summoning him forth.

While sitting on his stump, Ivar turned to see his flaxen-haired brother stepping into the center of the sparring area, a sword in one hand and an axe in the other. His smug smile could be witnessed even from where Ivar sat, as those watching cheered him on with enthusiasm.

The youngest Ragnarsson wondered who was stupid enough to try and fight his brother. He begrudgingly admitted that all of his brothers were fierce warriors in their own right, a trait surely gifted through the blood of their father and being descendants of Odin the All-Father.

Yet neither the father that abandoned them nor the one-eyed god in Valhalla ever answered Ivar's whispered prayers and silent cries.

In the sparring area, a new cheer arose as Hvitserk's opponent stepped into the circle. Carrying a sword and shield, you rolled your shoulders, preparing for the spar. The chant of your name filled the air, like those around could not help but be in awe of you. For it was the air of confidence surrounding you that made people magnetized to you.

And Ivar was no exception.

Your name flowed from his lips in a reverent murmur as his vivid, blue eyes refused to look away. You were perfection in every way. Your movements were fluid like a dancer's and calculated like a strategist's. Every year that passed, you continuously grew in beauty, a kind that should not be known in the mortal realm. People flocked to you, both to win your affections and bask in your presence. Your skills with a blade were already legendary. Many claimed one day that you might surpass Lagertha herself with your sword skill. You were confident and strong, poised and regal. A valkyrie amongst mortals that were blessed just to be in your presence.

The sporadic times Ivar and you interacted in passing, usually around his brothers, you never ignored or awkwardly stared at him like other women. As if they were unsure what to do around him since he did not have working legs or they feared he would randomly stab them. But not you. Instead, your gorgeous eyes would meet his, a smile on your lips, as you greeted him like he was worth your time.

On occasion, you would ask him a superficial question and it was all Ivar could do to remember how to speak. Then to his further astonishment, you would actually listen and respond. The few conversations you bestowed upon him were typically short-lived, for his brothers were always around and would steal your attention away or you would have to leave to fulfill your duties.

Yet in those moments, Ivar swore his heart stopped and he could grow wings and fly.

His brothers teased him about his crush on you, how he would go starry-eyed and barely able to speak in your presence. In retaliation, he would just remind them that whenever they made advances towards you, you would quite clearly make your feelings known - usually with a dagger against their balls. Not that it stopped their flirting.

Ivar knew of a few bets going around, trying to see who would be the first brought to your bed here in Kattegat. Yet so far, no one had won.

The riotous cheering resumed in the sparring area as Hvitserk and you began circling one another. In a blink, Hvitserk advanced, swinging his sword and axe only for them to repeatedly bounce off your shield. The two of you sparred for several more minutes, taking turns in attempts to land a hit or make the other stumble. Finally both of you stepped away, chests heaving and grins on their faces. Hvitserk said something that had everyone nearby laughing as he winked at you.

Ivar's hand tightened on the bow in his lap.

You shook your head with a smirk. Then you glided forward with an effortless grace and initiated the sparring this time.

"I heard she trained under Lagertha for a few years before coming here." Ubbe stated, coming up to Ivar's side with the arrows in hand, even as he watched the fight. "That's why she's so good."

Ivar grunted. "I hope she makes Hvitty eat dirt."

"She probably will."

This time something in you had shifted. No longer were you fighting on equal terms with Hvitserk. Oh no….it became obvious you had been toying with him this whole time.

In frustrated retaliation, Hvitserk's hits began to get more wild, his blocks more sloppy. Yet you continued to dance around him, taking each hit and easily returning your own that he barely managed to escape. Once you managed to knock him onto his back, but with a quick roll, Hvitserk was up and charging at you again.

Finally, with a clearly well-practiced and almost unbelievable move, you slipped under his guard. Using his momentum against him, you feigned a spin and snuck a leg out to swipe at him, effectively tripping him. Before he could do more than raise his face from the dirt beneath him, you had one foot on his back and your sword tip at the nap of his neck.

Ivar sworn he had never seen a more beautiful and erotic sight in his entire life.

After a moment, you allowed Hvitserk up, clasping forearms after with smiles still on your faces as those around cheered or swapped coins based on their betting. Moving away, you settled back to lean against a railing, happily accepting the water from someone next to you. With your sleeve, you wiped the sweat from your brow before taking a sip. One of the shieldmaidens at your other side muttered something that made you laugh, shaking your head before you playfully shoved her.

A smile tugged on his lips in answer to your own laughter. But it died a swift death when he noticed the many other pairs of eyes watching you. Some of those looks were nothing short of hungry.

"You should say something to her."

Ivar shifted his icy glare to his elder brother. "What are you talking about?"

Ubbe shrugged. "It's obvious you like her….don't deny it. The death glares you give the others are enough to confirm it. So, you should tell her. Who knows? Maybe she feels the same."

Ivar scoffed, even as his heart pounded in his chest like a drum at the mere thought of you returning even a smidgen of his affection. "No. She's too nice to say it to my face. But she has no interest in any of you, why would she be interested in the cripple then?"

"Ivar, it's not…."

"Shut up. I'm done talking about this. Let's go find our idiot brothers. I'm tired of waiting around for them." Ivar slid down the trunk and began using his hands to crawl back towards the Great Hall. He could faintly hear Ubbe mutter something under his breath as he picked up Ivar's abandoned bow and arrows, used to have to carry things for the youngest Ragnarsson.

Before he got too far, Ivar could not help himself as he turned to look over his shoulder one last time at you. Leaning against the railing, you watched the next sparring match with a small smile on your face, looking beautiful and happy.

With that image in his mind, Ivar continued to crawl away, each drag of his lower body haunted by the eyes he knew would be following his movement like he was some rabid beast in need of being put down for the safety of all.

But the worst part was the knowledge that someone as perfect as you would never look twice at him in desire. He was a snake, meant to crawl on the ground, and you….you were a Valkyrie meant to rise above everyone and dwell with the gods.

*****

His vibrant eyes peered down over the edge of the short cliff, cloaked by the bushes he looked through. Lying here, with his belly on the ground, no one ever saw him. He knew from experience, enough times spent tracking various people to see what he could observe, or witnessing his brothers and their various paramours. He knew no one looked towards the ground for the eyes they could feel watching them. Never thinking about the danger that lurked at their feet.

This revelation was both the shadow of truth he veiled himself in and the chain that kept him prisoner.

Now though, he was thankful for a very different reason that he had honed his skills of stealthily tracking and following someone without their knowledge. Quiet and sly as a serpent in the underbrush, he carefully moved closer, crawling forward on his elbows.

It was the muffled crying from below that twisted the knife in his heart and kept him hostage on the precipice.

Amongst the raised roots of an ancient-looking tree, almost hidden by the natural alcove between the tree and the sharp slope of the short cliff, you leaned against the trunk of the tree. Your face was buried in your hands, weapons laying discarded just within reach. Your stifled cries mixed with the sound of the nearby gentle stream, creating a conflicting symphony of peace and heartbreak.

It was not pity that filled him as he gazed down at you. No, he knew pity and loathed it. He would never place such a revolting emotion onto you. What filled him instead was….sympathy. For he knew what it felt like to purposefully draw away from others, to hide oneself away from the world, and only then be able to shed the restricting mask and release the pent-up pain without fear of others' judgements.

Almost a fortnight had passed since he had begun following you, trailing behind as you left Kattegat and ventured into the surrounding forest and to your safe haven. At first, it had been curiosity that caused him to track your journey. Only to be shocked when he discovered you in the hidden dell, taking your clothes off and bathing in the shallow stream, softly singing to yourself the whole time. His mind shut down, unable to comprehend what his eyes bore witness to. You appeared as an apparition, something not meant for mortal eyes. A vision that the gods guarded jealously. The image of you was immediately seared into his brain, never to be forgotten for however long he lived. For gazing upon you, was the epitome of divine beauty, both inside and out. A goddess that was meant to be worshipped for all eternity.

After seeing you bathing for the first time, Ivar spent the rest of the day in a haze. Nothing could draw him out of his reverie. It was as if you had cursed him, only able to think about you, to remember you in all your glory.

The next time he saw you, he was sharpening an axe at the blacksmith's. You walked by, but not without greeting him first with a call of his name and a mesmerizing smile. He was lucky that you continued on your way because he barely caught himself from slicing his hand open in his gawking and encouraging his tongue back into his mouth after accidentally swallowing it. He was certain that if you had caught him spying, you would have confronted him about it. When you did not say anything, nor in the days after, all he could guess was you were unaware of his observation.

So whenever he saw you heading for the forest alone….he followed.

In his mind, he reassured himself it was for your own protection. Of course, he knew the skill you possessed to fight and defend yourself. It was a favorite pastime of his to watch you knock over-confident, cocky men flat on their asses. Especially the ones that hoped to gain certain favors from you.

Yet he noticed that when you were alone in the quiet, hidden dell, you let your guard down in more ways than one. You looked at peace with your eyes closed and face lifted towards the sun like an exotic flower. Your faithful weapons were set aside and seemingly forgotten about while you were here. It was in this place you sought solace from your companions and the tasks and responsibilities heaped upon your shoulders.

He vowed to stand guard so your face would never have to shed that look of serenity, causing you to appear ethereal.

Now though, he trailed behind you to provide comfort and companionship. Even if he was not right next to you physically. He silently hoped somehow you could feel his presence and know that you were not alone. That you did not have to grieve alone.

It had been four days since the news of your mother's tragic and unexpected death had reached Kattegat's shores. Every day you accepted the condolences with a genuine smile and continued to train and spend time with your companions like normal. It was when you ventured here, into your safe haven, that your pain finally spilled out onto the ground. Staining the earth around you with your grief and tears. Tainting the air with your heartbreak.

And Ivar kept to the shadows, watching, waiting, making sure no one disturbed you.

Today, your weeping was not all-consuming, but still enough for Ivar's hands to itch in some misguided attempt to comfort you. Once the outpouring of your grief ceased, you wiped the tear tracks from your cheeks with the sleeve of your tunic. Only the gurgling stream and the bird calls filled the air.

With a weary sigh, you stood up and stretched. Ivar could not help the way his gaze slid over your perfect body, touching as much of you with his eyes as he could. For never would you allow him to touch you with his dirty hands. You were too perfect and he was….he was beneath you in every way.

Ivar prepared to slither back and hide as you ascended up the slope of the cliff and make your way back to Kattegat. A dance the two of you had done for the fortnight now that Ivar had been watching over you. Even if you were unaware of the dance you participated in.

Just as you reached your hand out to grab your weapons, laying on a nearby stone, you froze.

Your head slowly, cautiously, hesitantly, turned to the right. Your body was still bent with your hand outstretched, as if the weapons lay forgotten in that moment. Your eyes were glued to the trees across the shallow stream. Tension sung a melody throughout your body as you carefully straightened from your crouch. The sword now gripped in your hand like a lifeline.

Fear and concern kept his fierce gaze locked on you and on the trees, wondering what you saw, desperate to know what had you so on edge.

Then Ivar saw it….

….and a shiver of terror trickled down his spine.

Moving silently and with an unnaturally, graceful prowl, the wolf stepped out from behind the trees across the small stream. Flaming red like the fires of Muspelheim colored its eyes. An inky, black coat covered its body, appearing to absorb the filtering sunlight like a black hole. Fangs emerged from its snout, as long as Ivar's dagger and twice as sharp. The wolf easily stood as tall as a horse, yet its presence conveyed more. As if it's massive body still struggled to contain all of it.

Ivar gaped. For he knew before him had to be a spawn of Fenrir, sent to Midgard for nothing less than to wallow in carnage, to drink the blood of all it devoured and to create chaos with each of its powerful footfalls.

And at the moment, it's destructive gaze was set on you.

It's lips curled back in a snarl. The growl that left it's throat could make mountains shake in terror. Nature itself silenced to give way to the creature that commanded attention and awe-inspiring horror. Then one massive paw lifted, proceeding another, bringing it a step closer in it's prowl. Those burning eyes never left you the whole time.

At its step closer, you swiftly shifted your stance, hands gripping your sword with a death-like grip. From where he hid, Ivar could see the tremors of trepidation careening through your body. Yet even in your terror, you refused to go down without a fight. Even in the face of what was certainly death itself, you stood your ground. Denying it from taking your soul easily.

In that moment, Ivar knew what he had to do. Never had he been so certain of his actions. It felt like Odin himself placed a hand on his shoulder in guidance and reassurance. Viciously, he shoved down the fear and dread clawing at his limbs. He refused to watch you fight alone. He refused to let you die. Not you, his Valkyrie, his goddess.

With a guttural warcry, he shoved himself forward. Half crawling, half falling down the cliff's slope, he finally touched the mossy ground and crawled his way over to where you stood, ready to defend yourself from the monstrous creature.

Your eyes met his for a fleeting moment, wide with determination and dread, but you made no further move.

Wordlessly, he passed you, crawling until he was between you and the stream. The wolf remained on the other side of the stream, watching with a malicious glint in it's gaze. Then it took another powerful step closer. The water from the stream caressing its front paws, only to retreat as if nature itself feared the creature.

From just behind him, you softly whispered his name but he did not turn his head, never removing his gaze from the wolf.

Piercing, blue eyes locked with burning, red eyes.

Ivar reached back and unsheathed the dagger he kept strapped to his thigh. A gift from Floki. With iron in hand, Ivar unleashed his own furious growl.

"Come on! Don't you know who I am?" He yelled at the creature, born of darkness and fire. He smacked his chest with the flat of his dagger. "I am Ivar the Boneless! You can't kill me! Now come on!"

The air crackled like lightning and thunder covered the sky, even though no clouds could be seen in the vast, blue sky. Time ceased, the Norns pausing their eternal spinning to bare witness. A life thread would be cut today. Ivar refused to let it be yours.

The spawn of Fenrir released a howl that seemed to shake the very ground they stood on. The trees quaked and trembled. The water swirled under the sheer force of it's howl.

A righteous fury arose like a storm within Ivar. Tremendous waves that would break ships crashed and roiled just under his skin.

"What are you waiting for? I laugh at death!" Ivar taunted. "Come on! I shall kill you today!"

Red eyes remained locked with blue eyes.

A terrifying snarl escaped past the confines of it's mouth. It lifted a paw, ready to place it in the water, ready to cross and bring forth the destruction it was bred for.

Then it stopped.

A sneer played on the face of the youngest Ragnarsson. He knew that even if the creature killed him, Odin would happily welcome him into Valhalla. For what greater honor would there be but to fight a monster the gods themselves feared and to win. Even if it ushered in his own death. What did he need to fear with the knowledge of Valhalla waiting for him.

He only hoped to spare you from the dangerous touch of death. It was not yet time for you to return to the gods.

Suddenly, the wolf dropped it's paw back to the mossy ground. Lowering it's head slightly, those furious eyes remained fixated on Ivar. Lips curled back in a silent snarl.

Then as if a spell had been broken, it took a step back in retreat.

And then another.

And another.

Slowly, it slicked back into the covering of the surrounding forest. Red eyes never leaving the blue eyes that gazed after it in confusion. It's black coat blended into the shadows of the forest. Just as silently as it arrived, destruction promised with each step, it disappeared.

Neither Ivar or you moved for several minutes. Tension and adrenaline hummed through your veins as you both waited for the monsterous wolf to return. In those minutes, time itself restarted once more. Nature reemerged from where it had hid. The singing of birds filled the air and the quiet gurgles of the stream coaxed a resemblance of peace again. Even the sunlight streamed down warmer and brighter than before.

"Ivar, are you alright?" You asked, once you must have deemed it safe to move. With your sword still in hand, you dropped onto your knees next to him.

Taking a deep breath like he had been underwater for too long, he shifted his body around to sit on his ass. In the movement, he accidently brought himself closer to you. His heart faltered when he realized the proximity he unintentionally created. Your breath fanned across his face as you stared wide-eyed at him. It took an embarrassingly long moment for his brain to remember your question and not get lost in your alluring eyes and intoxicating presence.

"Uh, I'm….I'm fine….and you?"

"I…." You shook your head then turned your face to look in the direction the wolf disappeared to. "What was that?"

"I don't know. Do you think it's gone?"

"I hope so."

He blinked as he stared at the expanse of trees across the stream. How could a creature like that just appear then disappear? What had drawn it forth? Would it come for Kattegat next? Should he tell his mother about this? Did they need to prepare Kattegat for a war with this enemy of the gods themselves?

Feeling eyes on him, he turned back, startled to find you staring at him. "What?"

"It….it was you….you scared it away."

"What?" He accidently barked in surprise.

You huffed, still kneeling next to him. "Ivar, think about it. Something like that. A creature like that!" You gestured in the direction the wolf had been. "The only reason it would back down would be if it met a bigger predator than itself."

His mind froze. Refusing to decipher your statement. Unable to believe the words coming from your mouth and their meaning. His insecurities battled with the unknown truth now spoken aloud.

A gentle hand cupped the side of his face, causing his heart to soar under your touch, forcing his eyes to meet yours. Something swirled and danced in your eyes, threatening to drag him under and drown him. As long as you continued to behold him like this, to touch him like this, he would readily drown in you.

Your thumb stroked his cheekbone as you whispered, something akin to admiration in your tone. "I think…. I think we have all underestimated you, Ivar the Boneless."

Words tangled up in knots on his tongue. An embarrassing warmth colored his cheeks as he flushed under your praise. For the briefest of moments, he wondered if he had somehow died and this was Valhalla.

"You are made to do great things. Even Fenrir cannot stop you from your destiny it would seem." You stared into his eyes, searching, seeking, finding, reevaluating. Then you ever so slowly drew closer. With the softest of caresses, you pressed your lips against his cheek for a moment before drawing back. "Thank you….for coming to my aid….for defending me. I won't ever forget it."

Air was no longer needed to breathe. Gravity no longer tethered him to the ground. For all Ivar knew, he could float amongst the clouds now.

A sweet giggle brought him out of his inner revelry, along with the feeling of your hand gently caressing his face on its way down to land back in your lap. He immediately missed the sensation of your touch and wished he had the words to ask you to return it.

Smiling, you smoothly glided to your feet. After one last look towards where death had stood not long ago, you glanced back down at your companion. "Come on, Prince Ivar. We should be getting back before the sun sets."

He nodded his agreement. Although, truthfully, he wished to linger in your presence, this intimate, comfortable moment that you found yourselves in. To maybe find the courage to ask you to allow him to touch you, to caress your face or hold your hand, even for just a brief second. Instead, he watched you wander over and grab your sword's sheath from the ground where it had previously laid. Skillfully, you slipped your sword into its sheath and then onto your hip. Lastly, you tucked a dagger back into your boot and one up your sleeve before turning around to face him.

"Besides, after this, I feel like you've earned the right to travel by my side instead of following me and then hiding in those bushes above. I can't imagine it's comfortable." You teased with a wink.

A blush returned to stain his cheeks at being caught. It did nothing to stop his heart from soaring at the notion that you would not reject his presence in the future. That maybe it would just be the two of you again in your safe haven. On second thought, he might suggest a new location for you to find solace after this….encounter.

He watched you scurry up the slope nimbly. Once at the top, you turned around to wait for him with a smile on your face. A beautiful, beaming smile….for him. His heart thudded in his chest as he gazed back at you.

Carefully, he slipped the dagger back into his sheath on his thigh and prepared the grueling climb up the side of the cliff. But knowing you waited at the top for him, it was worth it.

On instinct, Ivar turned to look towards the spot where the wolf had been. Nothing remained that showed of the creature that had stood there only minutes ago. Almost as it was a mirage instead of flesh and blood. A bloodthirsty grin spread over his lips as he thought about the words you said. How it was him that caused the wolf to back down. How it was him that the beast recognized as the greater predator.

With that in mind, he turned to follow you up the slope.

Even with his useless legs, even with his insecurities and faults, even with the doubt and pity spewed upon him daily that made his blood boil in rage….even with all of that, he was still the apex predator.

Maybe the blessing of Odin had not abandoned him after all.

Tag List: Vikings (all):

@youbloodymadgenius @pomegranates-and-blood @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @geekandbooknerd @adrille88 @quantumlocked310

Ivar:

@breezykpop

[artemiseamoon]

Moodboards ✨ When you have more ideas than time to write then down. I think I’ll def sit and write this one since it’s been on my mind for days!

I have 4 stories in progress at the moment. This was inspired by watching early Vikings episodes and loving the trio of Floki, Harald & Halfdan.

Image source: Pinterest (I do not own these images)

Moodboard: by me, Artemiseamoon (Tumblr)